STAMPLICITY’S NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL, MAY & JUNE

ON THE PERSONAL SIDE

I can finally say things have calmed down in my life!!!  Mom’s house has sold and closed.  We were able to get rid of all the large furniture, her car and the balance of smaller household items we hope will be dealt with at a spring garage sale.  I will send out a newsflash when that date is arranged as I know many people love a garage sale.  My attic is full of lamps, kitchen items, cups and saucers, blankets, etc.

Life is returning to normal but I can still come home and say to Keith, “Did mom call”  some things are just automatic.

Unless something unforeseen happens the next email contact from me will be to announce that I’m a nana again.  Shawna is doing well and is due May 1^st.  She hopes to have a natural birth this time and has a mid-wife.  I would love to see my grandchild born so we are keeping our fingers crossed. 

Spring is here and with that comes plans to attend conventions and have some special events at the store.  So lets talk about….

WHAT’S GOING ON AT STAMPLICITY

Bryan and Sandy came to visit us last weekend and brought with them all the new catalogs they picked up for me from the CHA convention in January.  More decisions to be made now as the last month’s sale (which is still happening) has left space for new papers and products.  We’re moving things around again to better display the new items that will be arriving.  It’s a neverending job to ensure all the new Cuttlebug products are in the store (another large shipment will be here by Fri Apr. 11^th) for the great demand that’s out there.  People have been pleasantly surprised when they see I have a good supply but are also willing to order what they want if it’s not in stock.  Customers like to know I can order almost anything for them, will stand behind my products and that all the staff in the store will demo any tool or product.

In this everchanging industry and with the big chains carrying scrapbook supplies we have re-evaluated what Stamplicity will be carrying in the future.  For example, if you want a unique or specific style or themed scrapbook album, you know you can come into our store, we will hunt it down and make every effort to order it as quicly as possible for you.  The chains are carrying stickers now so our priority is not in that area unless once again it is something unique.  You won’t find what we have in stamping and scrapbooking supplies in the chain stores.  You won’t find the service and knowledge that you get in our store in the chains.

Classes will be unique and different.  If you want a certain class on a certain date and a time convenient to you, just ask.  If our workshop is open and the teacher is working then it might well be a one on one class.  We are here for you, that’s what customer service is all about.  We know our products and can give you many ideas or suggestions on what to do with something new you are buying.

Although clear and unmounted stamps seem to be taking over the stamping industry we are here for those veteran stampers who prefer wood mount.  We will continue to carry Penny Black, Stampscapes, Outlines and other companies that are unique to the stamping world.  Stampers and scrapbookers who prefer the clear stamps will find a great variety of sets at the store as we stock up on new designs.

And then there is the paper selection and new companies!!!

Our Stamp of the Month will continue for the balance of the year and our Demo Deals are making people very happy.  The demos are usually on a new tool that people hesitate to pay full price for in case they might not use it.  We can demo other products in the store and have the Cricut and Cuttlebug always set up ready to show our customers or even let them give it a try.

WHAT’S COMING IN THE FUTURE

Oh boy, the list is really too long and we are still searching through

catalogs.  I am trying to pursue other International companies for different products I’ve never carried before.  Cardmakers are going to be very excited on what we will be bringing in if it all works out with the shipping.  We will be focusing on many more card ideas and will continue to have many samples of new designs in both scrapbooking and stamping and crossing stamping and scrapping into each other.  The possibilities are endless, my staff are excited over everything they see and anyone who has visited the store knows how talented they are.

Sue is going to have a granddaughter in the summer so look out for her girly scrapbook pages (to date it’s been all about boys).  She is extremely excited.  Myself, I truly think Shawna will have a boy (just a hunch) so the girly pages I currently do will take a bit of a back seat.  Brenda is building a house and is taking pictures of different stages so her pages will take on a new look.  She just came back from Disneyworld so look for those kind of pages. Janice has been making cards for her daughter to sell in Toronto and her designs have added scrapbook paper to her cards so this is another new look for the store.

National Scrapbook day is May 3^rd. so I will be sending emails out to our 3 “S” members to invite them to enjoy a day of scrapping or stamping, enjoying pizza and door prizes.  If I don’t get a good response I will put the invitation out in a newsflash for other customers to enjoy the day.

Although I am not attending Scrapfest as a vendor on April 11^th and 12^th I am going to the Kitchener show with some good friends, taking some classes, just look over the convention AND DO SOME RELAXING.  Can’t wait to be on the other side of the fence for a change and enjoy a weekend away.

Creating Keepsake is having their annual Buffalo Convention on May 30th and 31^st.  I will not have a booth there as it’s a big hassle to take product across the border but Brenda and I are planning a presence there to help out in classes or crops.  Things aren’t settled yet but we will be donating to goody bags and giving some door prizes.  We will also be selling passes to the vendors fare at a good price.  Come and get your ticket and information at Stamplicity…..it’s a great show!!!

Janice and I belong to the Hamilton Calligraphy Guild and have been members for many years now.  Every other year they put on a great all day sampler with classes and a vendors fare in the evening.  I will have a booth there and will be teaching a Pergamano class.  Here is the website if you are interested in this event on April 26^th this year.   www.hamiltoncalligraphyguild.com.

 It’s a fun day!!!

I still have a good sale on many products for 50% discount and will continue to reduce items as other new items come in.  There are some great gift ideas such as clocks, picture boxes, etc for you to decorate.  There are some beautiful albums like Mickey Mouse and others on discount as well, alphabet, chipboard, punches and stamps plus embellishments.

I think I’ve covered all the news for now.  To keep informed of the Stamp Of the Month and Monthly Demo Deals visit our site often.  I am always putting up new pages and cards to help your creative juices flow.  Please bring in any albums or any projects you have completed, we love to put our customers designs up on our site to give visitors different ideas.

Happy Spring to all of you from all the staff.  I leave you with another favourite part of this newsletter….

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

1.        Set the mood with color.  Every color represents a feeling. (We learned that in Calligraphy)  When you’re struggling to pick just the right hue, think about the mood you want to convey and build from there.  Here’s a quick guide to the meanings of some colors..

RED…  Love, passion, energy, anger & strength

ORANGE…sun heat summer, autumn, joy, & creativity

BLUE…sky, water, peace, faith, stability, tranquillity, & wisdom

YELLOW…sun, happiness, optimism, intellect, & concentration
PURPLE…royalty, spirituality, sophistication & independence

GREEN…serenity, money, nature, spring, freshness & growth

2.     Turn unassuming cookie cutters into savvy scrapbooking tools by using them to create fun shapes for your pages.

3.     Write your journaling first.  Then choose photos that go along with the story.  Let the design flow from the words and photos.

4.      Keep a journal, online, on paper, on a blog, on a calendar, or on the refrigerator.  A journal will help you keep track of details you want to scrapbook and make it easier to recall the story after some time has passed.  With Gracie always coming out with something cute I have to stop and quickly write it down then store it for future use.

5.     Glitter is the new ink!  I use glitter on clean & torn edges, or to outline details on embellishments and patterned paper.  The glue out now such as Dries Clear make it so easy!!

6.     Authentic Moments to Capture…..your husband/boyfriend washing the car…planting flowers… .the table before or after a special family dinner….playing board games with family or friends….Taking a hike or walk… a child’s artwork, children helping with yard work or gardening… a child watching her/his favourite program and capture their facial expressions.

So look forward to our big news in a few weeks and come visit us in the store now that it feels better to get out of the house.  I hear this weekend is suppose to be beautiful!!!